J U D G M E N T

The grievance of the petitioner is regarding the restriction imposed by the Ponnani Municipality and the Port Conservator of the Ponnani Port, restricting transportation of sand from Ponnani Port only within the Malappuram District.

2. Earlier, identically placed petitioners had approached this Court by filing WP(C) Nos.23810 & 23818 of 2011. These writ petitions were disposed of by judgment dated 20th September, 2011. In that judgment, it was held thus:-

“Learned Standing Counsel appearing for the second respondent Municipality submits that, in the writ petition resulting in Ext.P7 judgment, there was a direction issued by this Court to the effect that the sand from the Ponnani Port should be transported only within the Malappuram District and that it was therefore that such a condition was insisted. It is stated that when the writ petition was disposed of by Ext.P7 judgment, such a condition has not been retained. On this ground, the Municipality submits that it is now free to issue passes enabling transportation of the sand from the Ponnani Port to places outside Malappuram District.

Now that such a submission has been made on behalf of the second respondent, which i